The Fast Track Special Court (POCSO) here has sentenced a man to 55 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for sexually abusing his minor stepdaughter and forcing her to peddle narcotics.
The accused of Thiruvananthapuram has also been fined ₹40,000. Failure to remit the fine would entail an additional two years and four months of imprisonment, according to an order issued by Special Judge Anju Meera Birla.
Special public prosecutor R.S. Vijay Mohan and Aravind R. appeared for the prosecution.
The incidents pertaining to the case took place during 2019-20 when the victim was in Class VII. The man, who is also accused in a murder case, had sexually assaulted the girl while the family was living in Tamil Nadu. When the girl objected, he had threatened her. He had also forced her and her mother to sell narcotics.
When the victim tried to contact her biological father and brother over phone, the accused had brutally beaten her. Even after the family returned to Thiruvananthapuram, the abuse had continued. Subsequently, the girl had informed her relatives who alerted the Poojappura police.
The court has sentenced the accused under multiple counts under various sections of the POCSO Act and IPC. The sentences of imprisonment would run concurrently. The amount collected as fine will be paid as compensation to the survivor, the order said.
